Owls Pummel Panthers, 97-58

WESTFIELD, Mass.  –    Senior guard Lucy Barrett (Mt. Greylock/Williamstown, Mass.) scored 21 points and senior forward Kierra McCarthy (Ludlow, Mass.) netted 18 as Westfield State snapped a five-game skid with a 97-58 win over Plymouth State University in the Foley Gym in Plymouth, N.H. on Wednesday night.

The two teams battled through a tight first quarter, but the Owls opened the game up with a quick 8-0 run that spanned the final minute of the first quarter and the first minute of the second frame, breaking an 18-all tie to lead 26-18 after a Taina Slaughter (Chicopee/Springfield, Mass.) layup with 9:29 left in the first half.

Westfield (5-7) extended its lead throughout the second quarter, and led 54-35 at the half.

The Owls system attack returned to form, forcing 42 turnovers and garnering 22 steals on the night.  The Owls also connected on 12 of 38 three point tries, and grabbed 27 offensive rebounds.

Barrett finished 7-14 from the floor and 6-6 from the foul line.  She now has 1096 career points, and sits in 14^th place on the Owls all-time list, just two points behind Holly Maines McGovern '99.

McCarthy boosted her career total to 950 points, as she ranks 17^th all-time on the Westfield scoring list.

The Owls got scoring support from sophomore forward Melissa Gray (Peabody, Mass.), who scored 15 points in just 15 minutes of play as she battled foul trouble for much of the evening.   Allison Hester (Sutton, Mass.) added 14 points on 6-8 shooting from the floor.

Elizabeth McLaughlin led Plymouth State (5-6) with 14 points.

Westfield will open up conference play with a 2:00 p.m. start time hosting MCLA on Saturday at the Woodward Center as part of a doubleheader with the Owls men's basketball team.   Please note, per MASCAC policy, the men's game will precede the women's game in all conference doubleheaders this season.  The Owl men will play at Noon on Saturday.